BMW finally crashes the EV party and does so in style with its iX. The iX is not just a new SUV but a complete re-think in terms of the way BMW makes its cars. It holds no relation to the standard BMW petrol/diesel SUVs and is a flagship SUV for the i brand. The iX is clever, made with exotic materials, and has an interior that is eco-friendly too. It is an X5 sized SUV but its looks will shock you and draw your attention. There is a lot that has been said about BMW designs and the massive grille but you need to see the iX in real to appreciate it. It is bold and turns heads unlike pretty much everything else. Finished in this BMW individual red metallic finish plus the copper accents, the iX looks stunning, to say the least.

The big talking point is the massive grille which now covers the camera, sensors, and radars. Elsewhere you will see a very simple design with fewer lines. There are flush door handles, slim LED headlamps, and tail lamps plus frameless doors (first BMW SUV with this feature) while even the BMW logo acts as the place for the washer fluid for the windscreen.

Inside, it's unlike any BMW I have ever sat in and the interior is impressive in the way BMW has thought it through. I like the fact that it is different in every way with no similarity to an X5. The hexagonal steering wheel looks unique and the floating center console along with large displays is very unique. Also unique is the fact that BMW has not used any raw materials or rare metals.

The interior is made up of only recycled or sustainable materials. There is natural leather being used while the interior has the same copper accents as in the exterior while crystal elements are used for the controls too. As for the tech, there is a curved 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a massive 14.9-inch central display with customizable menus, and a large number of options.

Other features include a heads-up display, reverse assistant, an 18 speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and the fact that the car recognizes gestures too. Oh and I forgot, there is also the largest BMW panoramic sunroof and ambient lighting amongst other features. The space is impressive with comfortable seating and good enough headroom/legroom. The front seats are sportier but do offer enough support.

 

India gets the BMW iX xDrive40 with a 76.6 kWh battery pack powering the electric motors to develop 326hp and 630Nm. There are two motors at each axle and it is the all-wheel-drive of course. The driver gets the option of different drive modes too while you can choose between automatic or manual regenerative braking via steering paddles.

Now let us talk about range and here the iX has a claimed range of 425km while in real-world expect a range of 300kmplus for sure depending on the way you drive. In terms of charging time, a DC charger will juice up the battery for 100kms in 20 minutes or 10 minutes with a 150kW DC charger. A standard AC charger will take 7.5 hours for a full 100 percent charge. Owners will get a wall box charger while BMW dealerships will have fast chargers too.

Priced at Rs 1.15 crore, the iX is a unique SUV that is not just about being electric but also has an eco-friendly outlook. It has one of the most imaginative/well-finished interiors with some nice attention to detail while it looks like a spaceship too. For making an EV statement, the iX is a strong choice.


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